The strengthening of the legislation do not bring a food hygiene and safety warranty. A high degree of protection can only be achieved through a simple, clear and coherent legislative framework, which takes into account the practical experience of the firms, the impact of the legislation and the cost coming from its application. Such a process justifies a permanent dialogue between the officials and the actors concerned in order to guarantee the effective application of the legislation.

Contract Catering has always been at the forefront of safe food handling and processing, reflected in its use of state-of-the-art technology and training. What is more, Contract Catering companies have garnered expert knowledge on the increasingly difficult subject of food hygiene and safety.

Even throughout some exceptionally trying years (BSE, genetically engineered crops, dioxin-tainted dairy and meats…), FERCO and national Contract Catering associations have been at the forefront of pioneering more exacting standards in food hygiene and safety.

The sector caters to a wide cross-section of the European population and contract catering firms all share an important responsibility : To develop higher food hygiene and safety standards and to provide a model of nutritional balance. This is particularly true with regard to more vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, patients in hospitals.

We live in a world where distances, tough schedules and time pressures often make eating healthily a challenge. For many employees, students and workers, contract catering provides the only balanced meal of the day. As stakeholders in the food chain, FERCO and its members are committed to making sure this remains the case and that social meals continue to offer the safest, healthiest food to Europeans.

PDF files to download :

Ferco Position Paper on Hygiene

Food safety that is well thought-through

Joint Press Statement by EMRA, FERCO and HOTREC, on 11th September 2001.

Joint Declaration by Ferco and the ECF-IUF in favour of higher food safety and hygiene standards and their effective implementation